Why Jason Denayer Will Be the Man City Player to Watch out for in Pre-Season

There are serious question marks over Manchester City’s defence as it stands.

Eliaquim Mangala and Nicolas Otamendi were both inconsistent last season. Vincent Kompany could barely get himself on the pitch because of injuries. Martin Demichelis has left the club after his contract came to an end. City’s four full-backs are all in their 30s.

It’s a volatile and unsustainable situation for Pep Guardiola, the incoming manager. His attempts to sign Athletic Bilbao’s Aymeric Laporte were thwarted when the 22-year-old penned a new deal with the Basque club, leaving him to look elsewhere for alternative options. As yet, no other deals for defenders have progressed.

There is, of course, no panic. It’s mid-June, and there’s an international tournament going on—a notoriously quiet time for transfer business—and there’s no doubt City will address the weaknesses at the back as quickly as possible, given the slick nature of their transfer operation.

They may not always sign the right players, but one criticism you cannot level at sporting director Txiki Begiristain is a lack of planning. City are swift and forthright in their dealings, identifying targets well in advance and conducting talks with the minimum of fuss.

According to David McDonnell at the Mirror, John Stones is another prime target. Stones, a 21-year-old ball-playing centre-half currently with Everton, ticks a number of Guardiola’s boxes. The Catalan likes youth in his sides. He wants to see them play out from the back. And given Stones’ home-grown status, he helps fulfil Premier League criteria.

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There are, though, potential answers to City’s defensive problems on the payroll already. What an exciting time for the club’s young defenders. Not only are they set to welcome a manager with a proven track record in developing youth, there are genuine hopes they can impact the first team. The volatile nature of City’s defence may be making fans uneasy, but it’s set to provide opportunities for their youngsters.

Jason Denayer must feel like this is a crucial, make-or-break season for him at the Etihad Stadium. Two successive season-long loans were designed to fully prepare him for life in the City side. He’s excelled and become an international during that period. And now, with City in need of reinforcements, it looks as though he will get a chance to impress.

That is why pre-season for Denayer is vital. He is at the European Championships with Belgium, and when he returns, he has one job: impress Guardiola and force his way into the manager's plans.

And he has every chance. Denayer, 20, is blessed with impressive natural attributes. He's quick, powerful and comfortable on the ball, and if Guardiola can improve him tactically, there's nothing stopping him becoming a consistent defender capable of performing at the highest level.

It would save City time and money. There’s so much reconfiguring for Guardiola to do at the back that a player already on the books with as much talent and potential as Denayer is a godsend.

He’s waited patiently for his chance, doing enough while on loan at Celtic and then Galatasaray to ensure the club’s technical staff have remained convinced of his ability, and the time has come for him to be given a run. The club made their commitment to Denayer clear last summer when they handed him a new five-year deal.

The injury concerns over Kompany could be crucial in determining how much football he plays this season. Kompany suffered five separate injuries last season, four of which affected his calf. It’s a long-standing problem that the 30-year-old shows little sign of shaking off.

His problems have baffled the club’s medical staff, who have continually tried to find solutions only to see him break down soon after a return. How much more are the club willing to put up with before they say enough is enough?

If Kompany’s woes continue, Denayer may to look to take advantage—and he will be hoping he gets more chance to settle in at City than Belgium manager Marc Wilmots gave him this summer.

Wilmots talked Denayer up prior to the Euros, earmarking him as the man to slot into Kompany’s centre-back position, only to lose faith ahead of their campaign opener against Italy. Wilmots’ decision-making and tactical understanding is questionable, and Denayer, it seems, may have been a victim of his shortcomings.

At City, he will be greeted by a manager who values what young players can bring to a side, one whose success at Barcelona was built on bringing through academy graduates to supplement world-class stars.

Indeed, he was given a shot at management after Txiki Begiristain, with whom he will resume a working relationship at City, gave him a chance despite limited experience.

There’s also the option of Denayer playing at right-back, something he did with success during his season playing in Turkey. His pace and technical quality allow him to slot in effectively, and with rumours regarding City’s interest in new full-backs thin on the ground, it could be a sign of their belief that Denayer is a solution.

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City's overarching ambition is to become a club that regularly produces its own first-team players good enough to ensure success at the highest level. The opening of the City Football Academy (CFA) in December 2014 marked the true beginning of their quest, and thus far, they have failed to bring anybody through.

Kelechi Iheanacho's development was hardly grounded in work at the CFA, and others have only made fleeting appearances. It will take time, of course, but they will be desperate to get that first youngster through the system as quickly as possible.

Perhaps Denayer can become the first player schooled in the academy—and accelerated through carefully selected loan agreements—who can become a regular in the senior side. He has the talent and ability, and he may well get the chance to prove himself.

A good attitude in pre-season when Guardiola and his backroom team begin implementing their style and vision on the training field will certainly aid his cause.

Rob Pollard is Bleacher Report's lead Manchester City correspondent and follows the club from a Manchester base. All quotes were obtained firsthand unless otherwise noted. Follow him on Twitter @RobPollard_.